Five things to know about Alabama's running backs in 2017
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Editor's Note: With preseason practice less than two weeks away, BamaInsider is previewing the upcoming Alabama football season by looking at each position group on offense, defense and special teams. This installment is on the running backs.
Also read | Quarterbacks
Where Alabama stands
Alabama is in as good of shape as any team in the nation when it comes to the running back position. Even after the transfer of B.J. Emmons last week, the Tide’s backfield offers five backs who could compete for starting spots at any school.
Damien Harris returns as Alabama’s leading rusher last season after running for 1,037 yards on 146 carries (7.10 yards per carry). He is joined by fellow returning starters in Bo Scarbrough and Josh Jacobs. Scarbrough led Alabama running backs with 11 rushing touchdowns while running for 812 yards on 125 carries (6.5 ypc). Jacobs brings a versatility to the bunch and often served as the third-down back last season. He led all Tide running backs with 156 receiving yards on 14 receptions while adding 567 yards and four touchdowns on 85 carries.
Alabama only added to its embarrassment of riches this recruiting class, bringing in two highly-rated early enrollees in Najee Harris and Brian Robinson. Najee Harris was rated as the nation’s No. 1 overall player, while Robinson, a Tuscaloosa native, took many by surprise this spring.
There are probably only enough carries for four running backs to be featured this season, meaning Robinson will most likely be redshirted. Although, he will need to be ready to step up in the event of an injury.
Where Alabama would like to be
In terms of talent, Alabama is already where it wants to be. That being said, the Tide still needs to figure out how it's going to spread the ball around enough to keep all of its backs happy. When asked about the topic during SEC Media Days earlier this month, Alabama head coach Nick Saban joked that there is “only one ball” and the Tide will have plenty of playmakers on its roster this season.
Scarbrough (leg) and Damien Harris (foot) were both held out of contact during spring camp but will be full-go when fall practice starts up. That should allow Alabama to fully determine how to go about distributing its allotment of carries heading into the season. Whatever Saban and newly-hired offensive coordinator Brian Daboll decide, there doesn’t seem to be a wrong answer.
Biggest question
How many touches will Najee Harris get? Judging by his size, not much separates Najee Harris from Scarbrough. Judging by his performance, there isn’t much of a difference, either. With Scarbrough and Damien Harris held out of Alabama’s A-Day game, the five-star early enrollee was the Tide’s most productive back, rushing for 70 yards on 17 carries.
At most schools, Najee Harris would be a shoo-in to either start or at the least receive double-digit carries per game. However, with three starters in Damien Harris, Scarbrough and Jacobs all returning, he might find himself in a lesser role his first season on campus.
Given his talent, it isn’t inconceivable that Najee Harris could jump any of the players above him on Alabama’s depth chart. Although, history says that isn’t likely the case. Former Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, a four-star recruit coming out of high school, received just 35 carries his freshman year, while Damien Harris, a former five-star recruit, had just 46 carries his first year on campus. Then again, neither of those players were the No. 1 running back in their respective classes. Maybe Najee Harris can be the exception.
“We have a lot of young players that are going to have key roles on this team, so this is not going to be nearly as an experienced team as what we had a year ago,” Saban said Wednesday while participating in ESPN's Car Wash. “We had some real alpha-dog personalities that had experience that were great leaders that we’re going to have to see how that sort of develops on our team with the young players that we have."
Projected depth chart
1A. Damien Harris, Jr., 5-11, 221 pounds
1B. Bo Scarbrough, Jr., 6-2, 235 pounds
2. Josh Jacobs, So., 5-10, 212 pounds
3. Najee Harris, Fr., 6-2, 227 pounds
4. Brian Robinson, Fr., 6-1, 218 pounds
Prediction
Alabama won’t have a 1,000-yard rusher but will have three running backs with 700 or more yards. Sure, Scarbrough has been finding his way into some early Heisman Trophy prediction lists, but the bruising back most likely won’t get enough carries to hoist the hardware this season. That might be a good thing for Alabama though.
Scarbrough won't get the 395 touches Henry got when he won the Heisman in 2015, but he won’t need to either. For Alabama, it’s all about balance, and with Damien Harris and Jacobs in the same backfield, the Tide can afford to give Scarbrough a few breaks. That should allow him to be fresh come the fourth quarter where he can serve as a finisher of sorts, busting through tired defensive lines.
Counting Jalen Hurts at quarterback, Alabama had three players who rushed for more than 800 yards last season. While the Tide will still allow Hurts to make plays with his feet, the focus this spring has been to incorporate the passing game more in order to create more balance on offense. Letting the running backs do most of the work on the ground will reduce the risk injury for the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year.